A Tale of Two Systems

[LoryWiviott]

I am preparing to buy a new custom computer via Monarch, and am struggling with the AMD vs. Intel decison. I am NOT much of a gamer, but my system get's a serious workload with MP3 encoding, powerpoint, word productivity apps, some image editing and video apps, and all the abuse my teenagewrs can produce. My priority is a highly stable, durable, cool running powerhouse that multi-tasks without a sweat and graphics display with sharp, crisp, true images with purity of color and highly readable text...framerates less important. I probably won't overclock unless I can do so without voltage or heat adverse consequences.

So with that ramble, I'm requesting feedback on pro's versus con's of 2 candidates. Key components noted:

System #1)
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual-Core
Mainboard: Abit AN8-32X nForce4 Audio/GB-LAN/USB/IEE
Video Card: EVGA GeForce 7600 GT CO 256MB DDR3/PCI-E/
RAM: 2 G DDR (400)

System #2)
Processor: Intel Pentium D 930 LGA775 3.0GHz 2MB
Mainboard: Asus P5WD2-E Premium 975x Audio/GB-LAN/IE
Video Card: ATI (Connect3d) Radeon X1800 GTO 256MB DD
RAM: 2 GB DDR2 (667)

Configured with similar case, PS, WD 250 HD's in RAID 0, the systems are nearly identical in cost.

Opinions from the forum geniuses would truly be of value to me.

Thanks,

Lory

 

[LoryWiviott]

BTW...I prefer to stick with standard heatsinks, case fans and am hesitant to go with the expense or complexity of water cooling, etc...should this lean me more to one rig or the other? I burn a lot of CD's and multitask but don't need to overclock much.

Thanks for suggestions!

Lory

 

[essasin]

This is what I would suggest

processor: opteron 165
mobo: EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra
video card: both are good choices
ram:G.skill ddr500 or some corsair value selects

 

[alimoalem]

here's a link to cpu benchmarks. the 4200 dominates in all but 2 benchmarks over the 930D.

as for the video cards, i'm not sure which one is better. i would think the 7600GT is because the 6800GS is better than the x1800gto (i think) and the 7600GT is better than the 6800GS

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: essasin
This is what I would suggest

processor: opteron 165
mobo: EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra
video card: both are good choices
ram:G.skill ddr500 or some corsair value selects

this is also awesome. depending on the resolutions you play at, though, i might suggest a video card upgrade

 

[andyandyandy]

I would go the Amd system personally. As alimoalem says the 4200 is much better

 

[chilled]

You don't seem to be a big gamer anyway so I'd stick with that AMD system.

 

[Bobthelost]

The AMD system is the better bet, buy why oh why are you blowing the extra cash on a high end SLI motherboard? You can save at least $50 and probably closer to $100 by getting a good single PCIe x16 slot motherboard.

The graphics cards are both good, ATI is supposed to have the edge in image quality, but most people don't notice any difference. The Nvida card is much less power hungry than the ATI one (oh, and if you go for the AMD system you can probably get a cheaper PSU too, bonus! )

 

[vtohthree]

If its going to be now, AMD FTW! But if you can wait until fall when all the new stuff gets released, then that'd be a good option too(could go either way, but either way it'll be using DDR2)

 

[imported_killuminati]

for video get a x1800xt 256MB one for $270 .

Peace & ciao !!!

 

[LoryWiviott]

Thanks to all for your excellent points.

Several suggest Opteron...why is this preferred to Athlon 64 X 2?

Are AMD systems likely to stay stable over 3-4 years of abuse as my Intel systems have over the years? I'd accept a breath less righteous performance in exchange for stability, and have no personal history with AMD except that the enthusisasts love thier proc.'s.

Lastly, you're right Bobthelost it's wasteful to spring for SLI...what do you suggest as a PCI-E mobo that'l do my RAID, etc... well?

Thanks to all you computer savants!!

LW

 

[LoryWiviott]

Regarding Athlon 64 X 2 vs. Pentium D 930...is there any advantage to the Pentium's larger L2 cache (2 MB vs. 512) and smaller (65 nm vs. 90nm) process and/or ability to run with DDR2 RAM or is this just more marketing hype hiding the truth with numbers? Perhaps the fact that the AMD architecture permits internal data communication between the 2 cores & the Pentium D's do not renders the above numbers less pertinent to preal world performance?

The truth is there...it's just hiding really, really well.

Peace!

LW

 

[alimoalem]

there is some advantage to the added cache but because the AMD cpu is so much better in the first place, the intel cpu catches up a little with the cache. i'm not saying intels are horrible though; depending on what you're doing, an intel cpu may be better (but not for the reasons you listed).

ddr2 at this time has no real benefit. it should (i think) in the future though

the reason opteron cpus are being recommended is because they overclock better than the athlon 64 cpus. it's only by a couple hundred MHz but those MHz sometimes make the difference. if you're not overclocking, stick with the athlon 64

yes, your AMD cpu will last as long as your intel cpu has.

for single slot PCI-E motherboards, the epox 9npa+ Ultra is a good one. i think it's under $100 now.